Roller bearing



July 27 192 1,593,580

H. c. KNOWLES ROLLER BEARING Filed May 13, 1920 q 1 Pi I.

1 45 47 INVENTOR.

Her-ford. C. Knowles.

%/ 7 ATTORNEYJ Patented July 27, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1,593,580 PATENT OFFICE.

HABFORD C. KNOWLES. OF ELITIRA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB TO THE WILLYS-MORROW COMPANY, OF ELMIRA, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

ROLLER BEARING.

Application filed Kay 13, 1920. Serial R0. 881,051.

This invention relates to improvements in I roller bearings, and particularly that type ers of roller bearings in which tapered rol are employed for the purpose of redu cing the friction and taking up end thrust.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved bearing of this character wherein end thrusts upon the bearing are distributed between the bearing surfaces in such a manner as to prevent wedging of the tapered rollers. between the bearing surfaces.

the tapered rollers so that the larger ends have a rolling contact withv the thrust ring and thus eliminating friction due to the ends of therollers sliding upon the ring.

Other objects of the invention relate to economics of manufacture and details of construction as will hereinafter appear from the detailed description to follow.

The objects of the invention are accomplished in one instance by the means de-' scribed in the" following specification, but

it is to be understood that the same may be varied considerably without departi from the scope of theinvention as point dd out in the appended claims.

A structure constituting one embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanylilng drawings forming a part hereof, in w 1c Figure I is a side elevational view of the comp ete bearing, illustrating the position of the various parts with respect to each other.

Figure II is a transverse sectional view through the bearing illustrating the position of the spacing ring relative to the two sets of rollers.

Figure 111 is a detail perspective view showing a portion of the spacmg. I

Figure IV is a transverse sectional view il-- lustrating a modified form of bearing.

Figure V is a transverse sectional view illustrating a further modified form of bearigure VI is a side elevation of one of the tapered rollers illustrating the formation 0 the end'portions thereof.

The bearing forming the subject matter of this application is an improvement upon that shown inmy application, Serial Numbel' 381,052 filed May 13, 1920.-

The forms of tapered roller bearings heretofore employed fail to operate properly under a combined radial and thrust load by reason of the fact that roller bearings designed for taking 'a radial load are so constructed as to cause a wedging of the rollers between the bearing surfaces when a thrust load is applied. In the form of bearing illustrated herewithv a full 0 type double roller bearing is illustrated which is constructed so as to operate properly under a radial load and also operate satisfactorily when a thrust load is placed thereon= by'reason of the fact that the parts are so arranged as to distribute the load properly between the bearing surfaces and. eliminate the wedging and binding action of the rollers between the bearing surfaces ordinaril occasioned when a thrust load is impresse upon the usual form of tapered roller bearings.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated herewith, 1 designates a unitary inner bearing member which is provided upon its 5 outer surface with a pair of outwardly sloping bearing surfaces 2 and 3 adapted to extend outwardly in a direction lon 'tudinally of the bearin from a point su stantially coincident wit of the hearing; A pair of similarly constructed outer bearingmembers 4 and 5 are employed which are provided with conical bearing surfaces 6 and 7 respectively so positioned as to form together with the sloping bearing surfaces 2 and 3 raceways for the reception of the sets of tapered r 11ers 8 and 9. The outer bearing members and 5 are adapted to be so positioned that the inner edges thereof are in close contact and these hearings are suitably held in position relative to each other by means of a cylindrical shell 10, the outer edge portions of which are .bent inwardly at 11 so as to fit within suitable annular grooves '12 formed upon the outer edgesof the bearin members whereby the outer bearin mem era are firmly secured in position re ative to each other. A portion of the inner edges ofgeach outer bearing member is cut away as indithe transverse center line 90 cated at 14 to provide an annular recess for the reception of a ring 15 which is adapted to be positioned therein and have a ortion extendin inwardly between the ad acent ends of t e two sets of tapered rollers. That portion of the ring which extends inwardly between the two sets of tapered rollers is provided with beveled faces 16 and 17 against which the conical inner ends of the tapered rollers are'adapted to bear, the ring extending inwardl such a distance that the conical ends 0 the tapered rollers hear there against at points radially outward of the axis of each roller. The recesses 14 formed in the inner edges of the outer bearing members are formed in such a way as to provide an annular groove for the reception of the ring which groove is of somewhat greater width than the width of the ring whereby a certain amount of longitudinal movement on the part of the ring relative to the bearing is pzrmitted when end thrust is applied to the aring. By reason of the movement which the rin can have in a direction longitudinally o the bearing the end thrust applied to the bearing is capable of being more equally distributed between the two sets of rollers and thus the wedging of the rollers between the inclined bearing surfaces is largely eliminated. A radia ly positioned in 19 is carried by the outer bearing memrs and projects inwardly radially therefrom the inner end portion of said pin bein positioned within a transverse slot 20 forms in the outer surface of the ring whereby the ring is held against rotative movement relative to the outer bearing members while lon 'tudinal movement of the ring relative to t e outer bearing members is ermitted In the embodiment of invention illustrated in Figure II of the drawings, the outer bearin members 4 and 5 are provided with inwar y projecting annular shoulders 21 and 22 respectivel which extend inwardly from the outer edge of the outer bearing members adjacent to the other ends of the two sets of tapered rollers. It is to be understood, however, that the rovision of these inwardly extendin an ar shoulders upon the outer edges 0 the outer bearing members is not absolutely essential to the operation of the bearing and these inwardl extendin shoulders may be dispensed with if desi In the modification of the invention illustrated in Figure IV of the drawings, the inner bearin member 21 is similar in all respects to t e inner bearing member above described and is provided with similar outwardly inclined bearing surfaces 22 and 23 adapted to cooperate with the inclined bearing surfaces 24 and 25 formed upon the ot er bearing members 26 and 27 respectively to provide raoeways for the two sets of tapered rollers 28 and 29. An annular sleeve 30, similar in all respects to the sleeve 10 of the form illustrated in Figure II of' the drawings, is provided for properly retaining the outer bearin members in position relative to each ot er and to the remaining portion of the hearing. In this form of bearing a ring 31 is provided which is adapted to be positioned between the ends of the two sets of ta red' rollers, the ring 31 being rovided wit beveled faces 32 and 38 formed upon the side ed es thereof and inclined at .a proper ang e for hearing against the conical ends of the tapered rollers radially-outward of the axis of eac roller. The ring 31 is provided upon its outer face with a pair of oppositely inclined surfaces 34 and 35 which are adapted to engage with the inclined inner faces of the outer bearing members when the ring is in position within the bearing. The outer inclined surfaces of the ring are thus gripped by the outer bearing members and the ring is held in assembled position centrally of the bearing, and retained against rotative movement relative to the inner bearing member.

In the form illustrated in Figure V of the drawings, an inner bearing member 37 similar in all res cts to the inner bearin member disclose in the other modifie forms is provided upon its outer surface with a pair of oppositely inclined bearing surfaces 38- and 39 adapted to cooperate with similar inclined bearing surfaces 40 and 41 upon the outer bearing members 42 and 43 respectivel to provide raceways for the sets of tapere rollers 44 and 45. The outer bearin members 42 and 43 are similar to the outer earin members previously described and are he d in position relative to each other by means of an annular sleeve 46 in the manner described in connection with the other forms of the bearing. A ring 47 is positioned between the adjacent ends of the tapered rollers and is so proportioned as to provide a sli ht clearance space between the inner an outer surfaces thereof and the inner and outer bearings res tively. The rin 47 is provided with veled faces '48 and 49 formed upon opposite sides thereof against which the inner ends of the tapered rollers are adapted to hear at points outwardl of the axes of said rollers. A pin 51 is retained in position by the outer bearin member and has a portion projecting ra 'ally inwardly and positioned within a transverse slot 52 formed in the outer surface of the ring whereby the ring is maintained against rotation relative to the outer bearing members. By reason of the slot 52 formed in the outer surface of the ring and the slight clearance between the inner and outer surfaces of the ring and the inner and outer bearing members rewhile being prevented from rotation relative to the outer bearing members.

In each of the forms illustrated the tapered rollers are each provided with a plane surface 56 at the smaller end thereof, this plane surface making an angle of 90 with the axis of the roller and a conical surface 57 at the larger end of the roller the conical surface making an angle of 90 with the bearing surface 58 of the roller. The beveled faces of the rings 15, 31 or 4.7 are formed at such an angle as to contact throughout their radial extent with the conical surfaces of the tapered rollers thus insuring a rolling contact between the tapered end of the rollers and preventing slipping of the rollers relative to the ring.

It will be understood from the above description that the various forms of bearing illustrated herewith are all of the double row full roller t pe, and are so constructed as to enable en thrusts to be distributed between the two rows of anti-friction members whereby wedfiling or binding of the tapered rollers wit 'u the bearing is eliminated. It will be seen u on inspection of the drawings that if end t rust is applied to the inner bearing member in such a manner as to force the inner bearing member towards the right as seen in Figures II, IV and V of the drawing, the result will be to place ad ditional load upon the set of rollers at the right in those figures whereupon the tendency of the rollers being pressed between the cooperatin bearing surfaces will be to move toward t e larger ends of the rollers, or inwardly toward the center of the bearing whereupon the set of rollers at the right in Figures II, IV and V will engage the ring positioned within the outer bearing members along a line radially outward of the line of the axes of the rollers thus forcing the ring positioned between the rollers in the opposite direction or towards the left as seen 1n Figures II, IV and V of the drawin Wards t e left will engage theleft hand row of tapered rollers shown in these figures and'tend to ualize the pressure exerted upon the bearing and prevent binding of the tapered rollers between the bearing surfaces. It will be noted that in none of the forms illustrated herewith are the inner bearin members rovided with a shoulder locate adjacent t e larger ends of the tapered rollers as is common in the usual construction of tapered roller bearings and which if present would prevent a proper equalization of the thrust exerted upon the bearings, but would on the contrary tend to force the rollers bodily in the direction of the thrust and thereby increase the bind= ing or wedging action of the rollers bewhereupon the ring forced totween the bearing surfaces. Thus the set of rollers at the right in Figures II, IV and V will not be pressed into wedging engagement with the inner and outer bearing surfaces, but the thrust exerted upon the inner bearing member will be distributed between the inner and outer bearing members and also by reason of the ring positioned between the two sets of rollers a portion of this thrust will be transmitted to the other set of rollers. The thrust upon the bearing is taken up on the bearing surfaces of the rollers instead of directly upon the ends of the rollers whereby the proportionate de ree of thrust which may be applied to t e bearings is greatly increased over that which may be applied to a bearing in which the thrust is transmitted directly to the end of the rollers. As the thrust is in the direction of the smaller ends of the rollers and as increased pressure on the rollers tends to cause them to move in the op ositedirection or towards their larger en s the two forces thus tend to equalize each other and prevent wedging of the rollers as would result if the thrust was impressed directly upon the larger ends of the rollers.

While I have shown and described in considerable detail a certain specific embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this showing and description is illustrative only and for the purpose of rendering my invention more clear, and that I do not regard the invention as limited to the precise details of construction illustrated or described except in so far as I have included such limitations within the terms of the following claims, in which it is my intention to claim all novelty inherent in my invention broadly as well as specificall What I claim as new and to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a roller bearing, the combination with inner and outer bearin members and two sets of rollers interposed therebetween, of a ring non-rotatably su ported by the outer bearing member and l ocated between the adjacent ends of the rollers, the said ring bein capable of slight movement in a direction ongitudinally of the Ibearin and adapted for rolling en agement wit the peripheral portions of the adjacent ends of the rollers.

2. In a roller bearing, an inner bearing member having conical bearing surfaces converging outwardl from the transverse central line of the caring, out-er bearing members provided with inner bearing surfaces adapted to cooperate with the outer bearing surfaces of the inner bearing member, two sets of tapered rollers interposed between the inner and outer bearing members, and a ring non-rotatably supported by one of said bearing members and interposed between the adjacent ends of the rollers of the two sets, said ring being capable of limited movement longitudinally of the bearm In a roller bearing, the combination with inner and outer bearing members and two sets of rollers inte ed therebetween, of a ring havin bevelle sides non-rotatably supported by the outer bearing and located between the adjacent ends of the two sets of rollers for engagement with the inner ends of the rollers outwardly of the axis of each roller. p

4. In a roller bearing, the combination with inner and outer bearing members and two sets of tapered rollers interposed therebetween, of a ring located between the adjacent ends of the two sets of rollers and non-rotatable with respect to the outer hearing member; said ring having beveled side faces with which the rollers engage outwardl of the axis of each roller and being capab e of a limited axial movement.

5. In arroller bearing, the combination with inner and outer bearing members and two sets of tapered rollers interposed therebetween, of a ring located between the adjacent ends of the two sets of rollers with which the ends of the rollers are adapted to engage to equalize end thrustsbetween the bearing surfaces, and means for preventing rotation of the ring relative to the outer bearing member.

6. In a roller bearing, the combination with inner and outer bearing members and two sets of tapered rollers interposed therebetween, of a ring located between the adjacent ends of the two sets of rollers and provided with a transverse slot in the outer face thereof, and a pin supported by the outer bearing member engaging with said slot to prevent rotation of the ring relative to the outer bearing member.

7. In a roller bearing, the combination with inner and outer bearing members and two sets of rollers interposed therebetween said rollers having conical inner ends, of a ring non-rotatably supported by one of said bearin members and. located between the conica? ends of the said rollers and having beveled faces for engagin and making rolling contact with said conical ends.

8. In a roller bearing, the combination with inner and outer bearing members and two sets of rollers interposed therebetween the adjacent ends of said rollers being conical, of a ri non-rotatably supported by one of said bearing members and located between said conical ends and having beveled faces for making rolling contact therewith, said ring being capab e of limited movement longitudinally of the bearing.

9. A roller bearing comprising an inner bearing member havlng two oppositely iirclined conical raoeways, an outer bearing member having two correspondingly inclined conical raceways, two sets of tapered rollers between said raceways. a ring carried by one of said bearing members and non-rotatable with respect thereto to have rolling contact with the peripheral portions of adjacent end faces of sai rollers, said ring and said rollers having a limited axial movement whereby end thrust on said bearing is sub stantially equalized between said two setsof rollers.

In testimon whereof. I afiix my signature.

FORD C. KNOWLES. 

